Flag Coach Plays

Flag Football Formations 10 5v5 and 7v7 formations with diagrams

A formation is just how your players line up before the snap. Pick a few, name them so kids can remember them, and run more than one play from each. Every formation below has a diagram, what it does well, which part of the defense it stresses, the age it fits and the plays from our free playbook that start from it.

How to use formations with young players

5 on 5 flag football formations

Five players: a center, a QB and three more. With so few players, a formation is mostly a choice of which side gets two or three receivers.

Spread formation, 5 on 5 flag football: how the players line upOpen middleXYCQZ
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Spread 5v5

Receivers split as wide as they can go on both sides of the center, with the QB in the shotgun. In 5 on 5 one side still has two receivers, so Spread looks like a wider Twins: the outside receivers line up near the sidelines.

Strengths
  • Forces the defense to cover the whole width of the field.
  • Makes man-to-man easy to spot: watch who follows whom as the receivers line up.
  • Gives every receiver room to run a route without crowding a teammate.
Stresses
Zone defenses with one deep defender. With receivers on both sides, the middle of the field opens up behind the short defenders.
Best age
10U and up. Young QBs struggle to throw to the far sideline, so use it at 8U only with short routes.
Our plays from it
Trips formation, 5 on 5 flag football: how the players line upOverload sideCQXYZ
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Trips 5v5

Three receivers on one side of the center. In 5v5 that usually means everyone except the QB and center is on the same side, or two receivers plus the center releasing that way.

Strengths
  • Puts more receivers on one side than the defense has defenders there.
  • Easy to teach: everyone lines up on the side you name.
  • Flood-style plays stack three routes at three depths on the same side.
Stresses
Zone defenses that do not shift. If the defense leaves its players spread evenly, the trips side has a free receiver.
Best age
8U and up. The names Trips Right and Trips Left are easy for kids to remember.
Our plays from it
Bunch formation, 5 on 5 flag football: how the players line upCrowded releaseCQXZY
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Bunch 5v5

Three receivers packed close together in a small triangle, one on the line and two just behind.

Strengths
  • Receivers release in different directions from the same spot, so man-to-man defenders run into each other's path.
  • Hard for young defenders to line up against: they crowd together or leave someone uncovered.
  • Short throws to the flat are quick and safe.
Stresses
Man-to-man. Defenders following their receiver out of a bunch have to fight through traffic.
Best age
8U and up. Keep the receivers about a yard apart so nobody bumps into each other at the snap.
Our plays from it
Stack formation, 5 on 5 flag football: how the players line upWho goes where?XCQZY
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Stack 5v5

Two receivers lined up one behind the other, the back receiver a step or two behind the front one.

Strengths
  • The defense cannot tell which receiver goes short and which goes deep.
  • The back receiver gets a free release because nobody can press them.
  • Works with just two receivers, leaving the other side open for a single receiver.
Stresses
Press man-to-man. Two defenders cannot both line up tight on a stack, so the one covering the back receiver starts off the line and has to guess which way the routes split.
Best age
8U and up. Stack is easy to line up in: stand behind your teammate.
Our plays from it
Twins formation, 5 on 5 flag football: how the players line upFlat defender's choiceXYCQZ
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Twins 5v5

Two receivers on one side, spaced a few yards apart, and one receiver alone on the other side.

Strengths
  • Sets up high-low reads: one receiver short, one deeper, same side.
  • The single receiver on the other side often draws single coverage.
  • A balanced look that runs both short and deep concepts.
Stresses
The flat defender on the twins side, who has to choose between two receivers.
Best age
6U and up. A good first formation because it runs simple plays like Curl-Flat.
Our plays from it
Split Backs formation, 5 on 5 flag football: how the players line upEither wayXCQHR
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Split Backs 5v5

Two backs behind the QB, one on each side, with the QB close to the center. One receiver stays out wide.

Strengths
  • Handoffs can go either way, so the defense cannot cheat to one side.
  • Built for fakes: one back takes the ball, the other sells the fake.
  • The backs can also release to the flats for quick passes.
Stresses
Defenders who chase the first back they see. The fake pulls them one way and the ball goes the other.
Best age
6U and up. The best look for teaching handoffs.
Our plays from it

7 on 7 flag football formations

Seven players: a center, a QB, a back and four receivers. There is room for a true two-by-two look, trips with a back, or two backs.

Doubles formation, 7 on 7 flag football: how the players line upDeep seamDeep seamXYCHZQR
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Doubles 7v7

Two receivers on each side of the center, a back next to the QB, and the QB in the shotgun. Also called 2x2.

Strengths
  • Four receivers can run vertical routes at once.
  • Balanced, so the defense has to cover both sides evenly.
  • The back is a safe outlet against a fast rusher.
Stresses
Deep defenders. Four vertical routes put more receivers deep than most defenses have deep defenders.
Best age
10U and up.
Our plays from it
Trips formation, 7 on 7 flag football: how the players line upOverload sideXCYHZQR
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Trips 7v7

Three receivers on one side, one receiver alone on the other, and a back beside the QB.

Strengths
  • Overloads one side against zone coverage.
  • Leaves the single receiver on the backside one-on-one.
  • Lets you run a three-level concept to the trips side.
Stresses
Zone defenses that do not rotate toward the trips side, and man-to-man on the lone backside receiver.
Best age
10U and up.
Our plays from it
Split Backs formation, 7 on 7 flag football: how the players line upEither wayXYCZQHR
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Split Backs 7v7

Two backs behind the QB, one on each side, with receivers out wide. The 7 on 7 version keeps three receivers and the center on the line, and all four can run routes.

Strengths
  • Runs can go either direction.
  • One back fakes while the other carries the ball.
  • Three wide receivers and the center still run routes, so it does not look like a pure run formation.
Stresses
Fast-flowing defenses. Counter and fakes turn their speed against them.
Best age
10U and up.
Our plays from it
Pistol formation, 7 on 7 flag football: how the players line upRun either wayXYCHZQR
Shaded area: the space this formation attacks.

Pistol 7v7

The QB a couple of yards behind the center and the back lined up straight behind the QB.

Strengths
  • The back can take a handoff going either way without giving away the direction.
  • The QB still sees the field like in the shotgun.
  • A good home for play-action and trick plays like the halfback pass.
Stresses
Defenders who guess the run direction from where the back lines up. In the Pistol they cannot.
Best age
10U and up.
Our plays from it

Plays from other alignments

These plays use a look that does not fit one of the families above, usually a single receiver on one side and a slot on the other.

Formation questions

What is the best flag football formation for beginners?

Twins or Split Backs. Twins gives you simple high-low passes like Curl-Flat, and Split Backs is the easiest look for teaching handoffs and fakes. Both are easy for young players to line up in.

How many formations does a youth flag football team need?

Two or three is plenty. Run several plays from each one, so the defense cannot guess the play from how you line up.

What does Right or Left mean in a formation name?

The side with more receivers. Trips Right puts three receivers to the right of the center. Teach kids to line up by the side you call, then run the same play either way.

What is the difference between 5v5 and 7v7 formations?

In 5 on 5 there are only three players besides the center and QB, so formations are simple: two or three receivers to one side, or two backs. 7 on 7 adds a back and another receiver, which allows two-by-two looks and trips with a back.

Next: see the plays by type on our running plays and trick plays pages, draw your own look in the play designer, or print a wristband playbook.